Northwestern vs. Michigan State

Should I go to Northwestern University or Michigan State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northwestern or Michigan State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Northwestern University vs. Michigan State University comparison
Northwestern University Michigan State University College 3 College 4
Northwestern University Michigan State University
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Overview

 Northwestern Michigan State
Location Evanston, IL East Lansing, MI
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 23,161 50,023
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #15 #240
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northwestern.edu msu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Northwestern Michigan State
Tuition (In State) $62,391 $15,192
Tuition (Out of State) $62,391 $41,778
Room & Board $19,440 $10,990
Avg Net Price $22,095 $22,803
Avg Grant Aid $61,716 $8,684
% Receiving Grant Aid 50% 92%

Admission

 Northwestern Michigan State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 51,261 53,341
Admitted 3,695 46,914
Acceptance Rate 7.2% 88%
Enrolled % 55.2% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.92 3.72
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 33/35 25/31
SAT Range 1490/1570 1160/1360
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025

Academics

 Northwestern Michigan State
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

 Northwestern Michigan State
Graduation Rate 94% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $89,800 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,378 $25,484
Median Loan Payment $200 $263

Diversity

 Northwestern Michigan State
% Men 46% 47%
% Women 54% 53%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 50% 67%
% Black 6% 7%
% Hispanic 12% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 8% 13%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 Northwestern Michigan State
% In-State 22% 71%
% Out-of-State 67% 21%

Campus

 Northwestern Michigan State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than Northwestern based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 23,161 students)

Northwestern vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or Michigan State?

  • Northwestern University is 310.7% more expensive to attend than Michigan State for in-state tuition ($62,391.00 vs. $15,192.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49.3% higher at Northwestern than Michigan State University ($62,391.00 vs. $41,778.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern University than Michigan State ($22,095 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 76.9% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($10,990 vs. $19,440)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than Northwestern University (92% vs. 50%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 610.7% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($61,716 vs. $8,684)

Northwestern vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern or Michigan State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Michigan State or Northwestern .

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 301 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
  • Incoming Northwestern students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Michigan State (26)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Michigan State (3.72)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than Northwestern (7.2%)

Northwestern vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern or Michigan State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Michigan State and Northwestern.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than Michigan State University (94% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $29,800 more per year than Michigan State graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $60,000)
  • Northwestern University students graduate with a $6,106 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($19,378 vs. $25,484)
  • Northwestern graduates are paying $63 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($200 vs. $263)
  • More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/